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Chris Dittmar is a
sports presenter with Australian TV:
Chris Dittmar joined Seven News
in 1995 as a regular sports presenter. A versatile sports
commentator and journalist, Chris has covered many sports
from basketball to AFL and he also covered the Sydney 2000
Olympic Games and the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
 At
the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Chris took on a full-time
commentary role for the Seven Network, calling beach
volleyball, tae-kwon-do, kayaking, and rhythmic gymnastics.
Chris comes from a family background steeped in sporting
achievements, with the Dittmar family name well known in the
Port Adelaide area. Chris's father played for Port Adelaide
Football Club, his uncle Wally also played for Port and
represented South Australia in State of Origin Football, and
his uncle Len was crowned Australian welterweight boxing
champion in the 1950s.
Sport was in his blood, so it only seemed right that Chris
would exceed at his chosen sport, squash, which he started
playing professionally at the age of 16.
He travelled the world for 15 years and reached the No.1
ranking in the game. He was the captain of the world
champion Australian team from 1989 to 1992, and in 1987 and
1989 Chris was named South Australian Sports Star of the
Year.
After a series of knee operations, Chris decided to retire
in 1993 while still ranked No.1 in the world.
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WHATEVER HAPPENED
TO ...
What happened to
Chris Dittmar & Susan Devoy
after squash?
John |
Thanks
to Andrew Shelley, Ted Wallbutton and
Robert Edwards, we've unearthed a wealth of
information about these former squash stars.
Dame Susan Devoy
is a charity worker and public speaker:
 Former
New Zealand squash player, Dame Susan Devoy, was ranked Number
One in the world continuously from 1983 until her retirement
in October 1992, when she achieved her fourth World Women's
Squash Championship.
She has, remarkably, won the British Open Squash Championship
eight times, the last in April 1992 when she was delighted to
regain that title having lost it the previous year.
Susan was named New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year in 1985,
1987 and 1988.
 A
Member of the British Empire and Commander of the Most
Excellent Order of the British Empire for her achievements in
squash, in 1998 Susan became a Dame Companion of the New
Zealand Order of Merit - the youngest New Zealander since Sir
Edmund Hillary to receive such a high accolade from the Queen.
In the same year she had walked the length of New Zealand
fund-raising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Now, as mother of four children, she continues her
fund-raising work as Chairman of the Halberg Trust.
Dame Susan Devoy is Chief Executive of Sport Bay of Plenty.
Public Speaking
Profile from Squash NZ
WIKIPEDIA profile
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FOOT FAULT ??
Sorry, a real
beginners question. When I am serving, so long as one
foot is inside the service box (and not touching the
line) does it matter where the other foot is? For
instance can the other foot be well over the service
line towards the front wall?
Roy |
Yes, the 'other' foot can
be anywhere, as long as one foot is in contact with the
floor inside the service box when the ball is struck.
Or, according to the letter of the law: 4.4.1 the
server has part of one foot in contact with the floor
within the service box without any part of that foot
touching the service box line (part of that foot may
project over this line if it does not touch the line) at
the time of striking the ball.
Steve Cubbins |
DOUBLES RULES ??
Where can I get info on the rules of playing on a
doubles squash court?
Amman Jesani |
The full rules for
"International Doubles" (as the WSF now calls it to
differentiate it from Hardball Doubles) are available in
this PDF document:
International Doubles Rules
Steve Cubbins |
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IN THE
ARCHIVE
-
SESSION 8:
Speed &
Reflexes, Clearing the T, Playing & Organising, 'Part of the
Court' ...
-
SESSION 7:
Sciatica,
Lower back pain, getting a sponsor, backhand return, work rest and
play ...
-
SESSION 6:
Improve your
backhand, Get seeded,
ACL surgeons, playing the Forehand Drive, routines for volleys, JK
or JP ???, Rules quiz 8 ...
-
SESSION 5:
Improving your
stamina, Finding the
rules, best referee system, too close to the ball, rule changes, lines and things
-
SESSION 4:
Rackets the pros use, Forehand drop technique, solo practice,
changing nations, consistent swing technique, right of appeal,
Rules Quiz 1-5 ...
-
SESSION 3:
Training
programs, improving in fits and starts, toilet breaks, ITB problems etc ...
-
SESSION 2
Body maintenance,
finishing games off, backhand returns, etc ...
-
SESSION 1
Appendectomy,
off-court programme, weight training, elitism, Olympics, etc ...
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JUNIOR TRAINING
PROGRAM
What would an
example of a training programme be, for a junior wanting
to be at a good county standard for BU17?
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 DAVID
MENNIE ANSWERS:
This is a very broad question. Do not limit yourself to a
particular level as this will impede your ultimate
potential. As a 17 year old your physical development is
starting to kick in. Work with a coach to identify your
strengths and weaknesses and set goals for yourself.
With the coach involved, train to make your weaknesses
into strengths; this will ensure your improvement. Look at
the resources you will require to reach ultimately where
you wish to be. (Technical; Tactical; Physical; Mental)
Your training must encompass all these areas or you will
not succeed.
If you are comparing yourself to players at a particular
level; look at the best at this level and model yourself
on them. Look at the four areas mentioned above how do you
compare. With any deficiency look to specifically
improving it. Set mini goals in all the above areas and
work to attaining them.
It is hard to set you a program without specific
involvement as to where you currently are.
All the best,
David Mennie
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ONE STRONG LEG
My strong leg is my right one, and it "comes into play
more". From that my right ankle is always sore (and
lately my achilles tendon to). Not when I'm on court
(it's warmed up then) but after and even in days that I
don't play. It feels more like that, for instance when i
go up or down stairs.
My question is what should I do to prevent it from
happening? Do players use some kind of straps to protect
the ankle? I haven't been engaged in any physical
activity for more than 3 weeks now but it's still a bit
sore. Thank you.
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PHIL NEWTON ANSWERS:
Most players have a
dominant leg that does most of the work when on court.
Consequently that leg gets stronger, but also takes more of
a battering. The aches & pains that you are experiencing
could be due to one or more issues.
The best course of action is to get checked out by a Physio
with sports injury experience who will be able to identify
the problem(s). Some commonly encountered conditions amongst
squash players that can cause the symptoms that you describe
include stiffness of the ankle, chronic tendon inflammation
& joint surface damage.
Most of the pros don't routinely use ankle strapping or
braces. These are used to prevent excessive joint movement
in cases where there is excessive mobility or there is a
range of movement that needs to be protected e.g. following
an ankle sprain. The symptoms that you describe are usually
attributable to an ankle joint that has restricted range of
movement. In such cases the use of strappings or braces
could make the situation worse (from a stiffness
perspective).
Physiotherapy is helpful in most cases & usually focuses on
regaining full joint mobility, full soft tissue
extensibility & re-establishing full strength &
coordination.
Phil Newton |
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IN THE
ARCHIVE
-
SESSION 8:
Speed &
Reflexes, Clearing the T, Playing & Organising, 'Part of the
Court' ...
-
SESSION 7:
Sciatica,
Lower back pain, getting a sponsor, backhand return, work reat and
play ...
-
SESSION 6:
Improve your
backhand, Get seeded,
ACL surgeons, playing the Forehand Drive, routines for volleys, JK
or JP ???, Rules quiz 8 ...
-
SESSION 5:
Improving your
stamina, Finding the
rules, best referee system, too close to the ball, rule changes, lines and things
-
SESSION 4:
Rackets the pros use, Forehand drop technique, solo practice,
changing nations, consistent swing technique, right of appeal,
Rules Quiz 1-5 ...
-
SESSION 3:
Training
programs, improving in fits and starts, toilet breaks, ITB problems etc ...
-
SESSION 2
Body maintenance,
finishing games off, backhand returns, etc ...
-
SESSION 1
Appendectomy,
off-court programme, weight training, elitism, Olympics, etc ...
FOREHAND VOLLEY
PROBLEMS
When attempting a
forehand volley I invariably hit the ball with the edge
of my racquet through the hitting area.
I'm often
accused of over-slicing my shots also my racquet face is
really open at all times.
This isn't a problem on my backhand any suggestions? |
DAVID
MENNIE ANSWERS:
The solution may be in the position of your shoulders at
contact. Imagine throwing a ball over the front wall.
Your front hand is up and extended for balance and your
shoulders should be facing the back corner. Hit through
the ball and imagine more contact on the racket.
Stay to the side and behind the fight of the ball. Work on
these points and this should help.
Without seeing your swing these points should help.
All the best,
David Mennie
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